EP3926085B1 - Machine à tresser - Google Patents

Machine à tresser Download PDF

Info

Publication number
EP3926085B1
EP3926085B1 EP21176477.4A EP21176477A EP3926085B1 EP 3926085 B1 EP3926085 B1 EP 3926085B1 EP 21176477 A EP21176477 A EP 21176477A EP 3926085 B1 EP3926085 B1 EP 3926085B1
Authority
EP
European Patent Office
Prior art keywords
shuttle
strand
carousel
shuttles
braiding machine
Prior art date
Legal status (The legal status is an assumption and is not a legal conclusion. Google has not performed a legal analysis and makes no representation as to the accuracy of the status listed.)
Active
Application number
EP21176477.4A
Other languages
German (de)
English (en)
Other versions
EP3926085A1 (fr
Inventor
Brian Whitehead
Mollie B. Jameson
Herman Chan
Current Assignee (The listed assignees may be inaccurate. Google has not performed a legal analysis and makes no representation or warranty as to the accuracy of the list.)
Spin Master Ltd
Fuse London Ltd
Original Assignee
Spin Master Ltd
Fuse London Ltd
Priority date (The priority date is an assumption and is not a legal conclusion. Google has not performed a legal analysis and makes no representation as to the accuracy of the date listed.)
Filing date
Publication date
Priority claimed from GBGB1707396.6A external-priority patent/GB201707396D0/en
Application filed by Spin Master Ltd, Fuse London Ltd filed Critical Spin Master Ltd
Priority to EP24151906.5A priority Critical patent/EP4389952A1/fr
Publication of EP3926085A1 publication Critical patent/EP3926085A1/fr
Application granted granted Critical
Publication of EP3926085B1 publication Critical patent/EP3926085B1/fr
Active legal-status Critical Current
Anticipated expiration legal-status Critical

Links

Images

Classifications

    • D—TEXTILES; PAPER
    • D04—BRAIDING; LACE-MAKING; KNITTING; TRIMMINGS; NON-WOVEN FABRICS
    • D04C—BRAIDING OR MANUFACTURE OF LACE, INCLUDING BOBBIN-NET OR CARBONISED LACE; BRAIDING MACHINES; BRAID; LACE
    • D04C7/00—Tools or apparatus for braiding or lacing by hand
    • A—HUMAN NECESSITIES
    • A63—SPORTS; GAMES; AMUSEMENTS
    • A63H—TOYS, e.g. TOPS, DOLLS, HOOPS OR BUILDING BLOCKS
    • A63H33/00—Other toys
    • A63H33/30—Imitations of miscellaneous apparatus not otherwise provided for, e.g. telephones, weighing-machines, cash-registers
    • A63H33/3088—Textile-machines

Definitions

  • the specification relates generally to crafts.
  • the following relates to braiding machines.
  • Braiding is the process of interlacing three or more strands of flexible material.
  • the strands used can be textile yarns, threads, wire, hair, plastic filaments, etc.
  • Braiding is used to make cords, ropes, twine, etc. Braiding on a non-commercial scale is done by hand and is labor intensive. Further, as the number of strands used in making a braided product increases, the complexity of the manual braiding process increases exponentially, making it prohibitively expensive from a time resource perspective.
  • JPH02104305A discloses a hair braiding machine.
  • US4369690A discloses a hair braiding apparatus.
  • USRE20146E discloses a core covering machine.
  • the braiding machine has a set of spool shuttles that dispense a strand of flexible material under tension.
  • the strands of flexible material can be, for example, threads, strings, wires, yarn, or hair.
  • a strand retractor is positioned to releasably securely receive and retract the strands from the spool shuttles.
  • a plurality of shuttle stations at which the spool shuttles can be parked are arranged in a circuit. At least one shuttle carriage coupled to the shuttle stations can be driven to repeatedly select an immediately previously unselected spool shuttle and move it from an associated shuttle station to another shuttle station along the circuit spaced from the associated shuttle station by at least one intermediate shuttle station.
  • a drive arrangement is coupled to the shuttle carriage to drive the shuttle carriage.
  • terminators for cords are also disclosed.
  • the terminators have a terminator plug having a sleeve with at least one spike extending therefrom to engage a plurality of strands.
  • a terminator connector has an opening dimensioned to securely receive the terminator plug therein when the terminator plug is compressed about the plurality of strands, and a retaining feature retaining the terminator plug within the opening when the terminator plug is inserted therein.
  • a braiding machine 20 in accordance with an embodiment is shown in FIG. 1 .
  • the braiding machine 20 in this embodiment makes braided cords for jewelry such as bracelets, anklets, necklaces, etc.
  • the braiding machine 20 has a housing 24 with a base 28 and a cover 32 that enclose a number of components.
  • a circular manual crank 36 having a crank handle 40 rotatably mounted off center thereof is rotatably positioned within an opening of the cover 32.
  • the manual crank 36 forms part of a drive arrangement and is rotatably coupled to a toothed crank gear 44 rotatably mounted to the base 28 within the housing 24 of the braiding machine 20.
  • the crank gear 44 has a toothed interior circumferential surface 48 that two spring-biased pawls 52 secured to an inside surface of the manual crank 36 engage.
  • Rotation of the manual crank 36 in a first direction that is, clockwise when viewed from top, as indicated by the rotation direction CW shown in FIG. 1
  • the crank gear 44 rotate clockwise.
  • the pawls 52 do not engage the crank gear 44 to rotate it.
  • the manual crank 36 forms part of a drive arrangement, with the crank gear 44, an intermediate gear 56, and a carousel gear 60.
  • the intermediate gear 56 is rotatably mounted on the base 28 and has teeth along its periphery corresponding to and meshing with the teeth of the crank gear 44.
  • the carousel gear 60 is rotatably mounted to the base 28 and has teeth along its periphery corresponding to and meshing with the teeth of the intermediate gear 56.
  • Turning of the manual crank 36 via the crank handle 40 in the clockwise direction CW causes the carousel gear 60 to also rotate in a clockwise direction.
  • the carousel gear 60 has a central aperture enabling a fixed gear 64 to be affixed to the base 28.
  • the fixed gear 64 does not rotate with the carousel gear 60 and remains in a fixed orientation relative to the base 28.
  • a carousel 66 is mounted on the carousel gear 60 and rotates with it.
  • the carousel 66 has a carousel platform 68 that is secured to the carousel gear 60.
  • two actuator gears 72 of the carousel 66 are rotatably secured between the carousel gear 60 and the carousel platform 68, and have teeth 76 that mate with teeth on the fixed gear 64.
  • the actuator gears 72 have 18 teeth and the fixed gear 64 has 28 teeth in the current embodiment.
  • the actuator gears 72 are also rotated in a clockwise direction about an actuator gear rotation axis RA AG via meshing contact between teeth of the actuator gears 72 and the fixed gear 64.
  • a support flange 80 extends about most of the circumference of each actuator gear 72 and is interrupted by a gap 84.
  • a depressor protrusion 88 coinciding with the gap 84 about the same angular orientation about the actuator gear rotation axis RA AG is a depressor protrusion 88 having a sloped surface.
  • Two lifters 92 are pivotably secured to the underside of the carousel platform 68.
  • FIG. 6 shows a lifter 92 in greater detail.
  • the lifter 92 has a pivot shaft 96 extending therethrough that is fitted into brackets on the underside of the carousel platform 68.
  • a gate 100 extends laterally from the pivot shaft 96 and has a ramp 104 and a sloped upper guide 108. The ramp 104 and the upper guide 108 form a channel.
  • a lifter trigger 112 extends laterally on an opposite side of the pivot shaft 96.
  • the lifters 92 are spring biased to bias the lifter triggers 112 in an upward position towards the carousel platform 68.
  • the actuator gears 72 and the lifters 92 are positioned so that the lifter trigger 112 rests atop of the support flange 80 or below the depressor protrusion 88 as shown in FIG. 4 .
  • the lifter triggers 112 are, for most of the rotation cycle of the actuator gears 72, resting above the support flange 80.
  • each actuator gear 72 rotates and intermittently depresses the trigger 112 of the corresponding lifter 92 via the depressor protrusion 88 as it rotates around.
  • the depressor protrusion 88 is able to overcome the force of the biasing spring of the lifter 92 and pivot the lifter trigger 112 downwards.
  • the lifter trigger 112 is allowed to pivot back up to a position above the support flange 80 until the next full rotation of the actuator gear 72.
  • the gearing is selected in the current embodiment so that this happens once every nine shuttle stations 188 that it passes.
  • FIG. 7 shows the carousel platform 68 having a generally circular shape with two lift notches 116 aligned with the ramps 104 of the lifters 92.
  • Each of the lift notches 116 has a beveled leading edge 120 and a sloped trailing edge 124.
  • Two loading slots 128 extend into the carousel platform 68 along the circumference thereof between the lift notches 116.
  • Each of the loading slots 128 has a round head 132 and a narrower neck 136.
  • FIG. 8 shows one of the shuttle carriages 140 in greater detail.
  • the shuttle carriage 140 has a post 144 aligned with a shuttle carriage rotation axis RAsc that defines a longitudinal axis of the shuttle carriage 140.
  • An aperture 146 is dimensioned to freely rotatably receive a corresponding one of the posts 142 of the carousel platform 68.
  • a set of ten spokes 148 radiate laterally from the post 144. The spokes 148 define recesses 152 between them.
  • Each spoke 148 has a pair of projections 156 that extend along an engagement portion 157 of their longitudinal length, and don't extend along a bypass portion 158 that extends along another part of the longitudinal length, giving the shuttle carriage 140 different profiles perpendicular to the shuttle carriage rotation axis RAsc.
  • the number of spokes 148 is selected as will be explained below.
  • a post spacer 160 having two compressible flanges is shown positioned over the post 144 of each shuttle carriage 140.
  • a shuttle guide 164 is secured to the carousel platform 68 and has slots 168 corresponding to the loading slots 128 of the carousel platform 68.
  • Two generally circular gear cavities 172 are positioned along the outer region of the shuttle guide 164 between the slots 168 and are slightly larger in size than the lateral profile of the shuttle carriages 140.
  • the shuttle guide 164 has a thickness that corresponds to that of the spokes 148 of the shuttle carriages 140.
  • a base shuttle support 176 is secured to posts of the base 28 and has a notched ring 180 that is supported below the shuttle guide 164 and the shuttle carriages 140.
  • the notched ring 180 has a set of 14 notches 184 along an inside circumference thereof.
  • the cover 32 has a central aperture 186 aligned over the carousel 66 and about which a plurality of shuttle stations 188 (14 in total) are located.
  • Each shuttle station 188 has a shuttle notch 192 corresponding to and aligned over one of the notches 184 in the notched ring 180 of the base shuttle support 176.
  • the shuttle stations 188 have a generally planar support surface 196 surrounding each shuttle notch 192.
  • An arcuate external retaining wall 200 borders each shuttle station 188 along an external lateral edge of the support surface 196. Additionally, internal retaining walls 204 bridge between the shuttle notches 192 along the internal circumference of the shuttle stations 188.
  • a support column 208 extends upwardly from the cover 32 and supports a guide arm 212 that extends over the central aperture 186.
  • the guide arm 212 has a strand guide 216 at its distal end that is positioned generally centrally over the central aperture 186, and made of two curved fork members 220 that define a guide passageway 224.
  • the fork members 220 contact one another but are flexible and can be urged apart under force.
  • a tensioner arm 228 is hingedly connected to the support column 208 via a tensioner arm hinge 232 and has a similar shape to that of the guide arm 212 to generally mate with it when pivoted atop of the guide arm 212.
  • a coil spring 236 biases the tensioner arm 228 to pivot upwards away from the central aperture 186.
  • a tensioner arm lock 240 located on a top surface of the guide arm 212 engages a corresponding feature on a bottom surface of the tensioner arm 228 to restrict the tensioner arm 228 from pivoting upwards.
  • the tensioner arm 228 has a friction grip 244 at its distal end.
  • the friction grip 244 has a flexible, resilient, elongated member that is positioned against the distal end of the tensioner arm 228 but can be urged away from the tensioner arm 228 under force.
  • a strand clamp 248 is hingedly connected to the tensioner arm 228 adjacent the friction grip 244.
  • a clamp lock 252 on a side of the strand clamp 248 engages a ridge 256 on the side of the tensioner arm 228 when the clamp lock 252 is pivoted downwards into a closed position, but can be biased away from the ridge 256 to enable the clamp lock 252 to pivot upwards to an open position.
  • the tensioner arm 228 can be releasably secured to the tensioner arm lock 240.
  • a gate 260 on the underside of the strand clamp 248 fits under the friction grip 244 and urges the tensioner arm lock 240 to release the tensioner arm 228 when the strand clamp 248 is being locked in the closed position via the clamp lock 252.
  • the spool shuttle 264 has a shuttle body 268 that has a pair of resilient, flexible mounting posts 272 extending from a wall thereof.
  • the mounting posts 272 are angled away from one another and have projections with beveled edges at the distal ends thereof to retain a pre-loaded spool 276 mounted thereon.
  • the beveled edges of the projections cause the mounting posts 272 to move to one another when the spool 276 is being mounted thereon.
  • the spool 276 is pre-loaded with a strand of flexible material (shown at 277) prior to mounting of the spool on the mounting posts 272.
  • the spool 276 has a toothed flange 280, the teeth of which impinge upon a resilient, flexible tensioning member 284.
  • the tensioning member 284 resists passage of the teeth of the toothed flange 280 and, thus, rotation of the spool 276 on the mounting posts 272, but permits its rotation when a threshold torque is applied to the spool 276.
  • a strand dispenser guide 288 extends above the spool 276 and has a guide aperture 292.
  • the spool 276 can be removed from the mounting posts 272 by pinching the mounting posts 272 together so that the projections of the mounting posts 272 are aligned with the through-hole of the spool 276.
  • a shuttle shaft 296 extends from an underside of the shuttle body 268 and is circular in lateral profile.
  • the shuttle shaft 296 has an enlarged shaft mid-section 300 and a disc-shaped foot 304 with rounded edges at its distal end.
  • the strand clamp 248 of the tensioner arm 228 is opened by pivoting it upwardly.
  • Pre-loaded spools 276 are placed on each spool shuttle 264, and the loose end of the strand wrapped therearound is inserted through the guide aperture 292 of the strand dispenser guide 288, inserted through the passageway 224 of the strand guide 216, and placed into the friction grip 244 of the tensioner arm 228.
  • the strand clamp 248 is pivoted downwardly to lock it via engagement of the clamp lock 252 with the ridge 256.
  • the gate 260 opens the tensioner arm lock 240, thereby releasing the tensioner arm 228 and allowing the coil spring 236 to bias the tensioner arm 228 upwardly to apply tension to the strands.
  • FIG. 10A shows a plan view of the shuttle stations 188 and the carousel 66 after preparation, with a single spool shuttle 264 positioned at one of the shuttle stations 188a.
  • spool shuttles are not shown, but in the described embodiment, up to twelve spool shuttles can be deployed by the braiding machine 20 simultaneously.
  • the shuttle bodies 268 of the spool shuttles 264 rest on the cover 32 at the shuttle stations 188 with the shuttle shafts 296 being cradled by the arcuate external retaining wall 200, the internal retaining walls 204, the shuttle notches 192 and the notches 184 in the base shuttle support 176.
  • the shuttle shafts 296 of the spool shuttles 264 are restricted within the shuttle notches 192 and the notches 184 at the shuttle stations 188 by contact with the circumferential edge of the carousel platform 68 and the shuttle guide 164.
  • the shuttle carriages 140 are rotated with the carousel 66. While the shuttle carriages 140 freely rotate on the carousel platform 68, the spokes 148 of the shuttle carriages 140 engage and mesh with the shuttle shafts 296 that are parked at the shuttle stations 188, thereby rotating the shuttle carriages 140 in an opposite direction (i.e., counter-clockwise) relative to the rotation of the carousel 66 (i.e., clockwise). As shown, the spool shuttle 264 is at shuttle station 188a. The circumference and number of spokes of the shuttle carriage, and the spacing of the shuttle stations, are selected so that every second recess 152 of the shuttle carriage 140 aligns with the shuttle shaft 296 at a shuttle station 188.
  • the actuator gear 72 is in the correct orientation to depress the lifter trigger 112 of the lifter 92, thereby causing the gate 100 to be pivoted upwardly.
  • FIG. 11A shows the position of the spool shuttle 264 relative to that of the adjacent shuttle carriage 140a before the spool shuttle 264 is elevated by the lifter 92.
  • the shuttle shaft 296 is within a recess 152 of the spool carriage 140a and the enlarged shaft mid-section 300 is adjacent to the bypass portion 158 of the shuttle carriage 140, out of reach of the projections 156.
  • FIG. 12A shows the position of the lifter 92 as it approaches the spool shuttle 264 at shuttle position 188a.
  • the shuttle carriage 140 has not been shown.
  • the spool shuttle 264 is in a parked elevation, with its foot 304 positioned below the carousel platform 68.
  • the lifter trigger 112 of the lifter 92 is undepressed, the channel defined by the ramp 104 and the upper guide 108 of the gate 100 is aligned with the foot 304 of the spool shuttle 264.
  • FIG. 12B shows the position of the lifter 92 as it is being pivoted by the actuator gear 72 at the spool shuttle 264.
  • the ramp 104 and the upper guide 108 immediately previously guided the foot 304 into the gate 100, just before the lifter 92 is pivoted.
  • the depressor protrusion 88 of the actuator gear 72 is rotated into contact with and depresses the lifter trigger 112, causing the gate 100 to pivot upwardly and raise the spool shuttle 264 to a mobile elevation in which the foot 304 of the spool shuttle 264 has passed through the lift notch 116 and is above the carousel platform 68.
  • the sloped trailing edge 124 prevents catching of the spool shuttle 264 on the edge of the carousel platform 68 even when the lifter 92 and the carousel platform 68 are slightly misaligned. This is timed such that it occurs as the lifter 92 is passing a shuttle station 188.
  • FIG. 12C shows the position of the lifter 92 just after it is no longer being pivoted by the actuator gear 72.
  • the gate 100 is in the process of pivoting downwards as a result of the biasing force applied by the spring on the lifter 92.
  • the foot 304 of the spool shuttle 264 which was previously raised to the mobile elevation in which it was above the carousel platform 68, has moved relative to the lift notch 116 of the carousel platform 68 away from the shuttle station 188a.
  • the spool shuttle 264 When the spool shuttle 264 is moved to the mobile elevation (that is, above the carousel platform 68) relative to a plane Pc of the carousel as shown in FIG. 11B , the enlarged shaft mid-section 300 is urged into engagement by the projections 156 of the shuttle carriage 140a within the recess 152 to restrict lateral movement of the shuttle shaft 296.
  • the body 268 of the spool shuttle 264 is elevated above the internal retaining walls 204 at the mobile elevation to enable the spool shuttle 264 to move away from the shuttle station 188a.
  • FIG. 10B shows the carousel 66 after it is rotated clockwise.
  • the spool shuttle 264 is elevated atop of the carousel platform 68
  • further rotation of the carousel 66 causes the shuttle carriages 140 to come into contact with other shuttle shafts 296 of other spool shuttles 264 parked at other shuttle stations 188 (not shown) and to be rotated counter-clockwise as a result.
  • the surfaces of the spokes 148 of the shuttle carriages 140 in their bypass portions 158 facilitates rolling engagement and disengagement with the shuttle shafts 296.
  • the spool shuttle 264 engaged by the projections 156 of the shuttle carriage 140a, is moved from the shuttle station 188a on an eccentric path within the gear cavities 172 of the shuttle guide 164 and is stabilized orientationally by abutment with the post spacer 160.
  • FIG. 10C shows the carousel 66 after it is rotated further clockwise, with the spool shuttle 264 elevated atop of the carousel platform 68 having been translated via counter-clockwise rotation of the shuttle carriage 140a relative to the carousel 66.
  • FIG. 10D shows the carousel 66 after further rotation.
  • the spool shuttle 264 is shown positioned at shuttle station 188f, five shuttle stations 188 subsequent to its original shuttle station 188a.
  • the depressor protrusion 88 of the corresponding actuator gear 72 is not aligned with the lifter trigger 112 of the corresponding lifter 92.
  • the gate 100 is in the lower position depicted in FIG. 12A .
  • the spool shuttle 264 As the foot 304 of the spool shuttle 264 slides off of the carousel platform 68 and into the lift notch 116, it is urged downwards by the upper guide 108 below the carousel platform 68 causing the spool shuttle 264 to return to the parked elevation. In the parked elevation, the projections 156 of the shuttle carriage 140a no longer engage the enlarged shaft mid-section 300, as it is located adjacent the bypass portion 158 of the spokes 156. Thus, the spool shuttle 264 remains "parked" at the shuttle station 188f until it is picked up again at a later time by one of the shuttle carriages 140.
  • one or more spool shuttles 264 will be parked at the intermediate shuttle stations 188, causing the strands dispensed by the spool shuttles 264 to be braided together to form a braided cord. Subsequent further rotation of the carousel 66 causes the shuttle carriage 140a to pick up an immediately previously unselected spool shuttle 264 at shuttle station 188j, if one is present there. Each of the shuttle carriages 140a, 140b continue this pattern of selectively moving immediately previously unselected spool shuttles while the braiding machine is operated.
  • FIG. 13 shows a terminator plug 400 that is used to clamp the loose strand ends of the cord formed by the braiding machine 20.
  • the terminator plug 400 is a sleeve 402 that has one or more spikes 404 directed inwardly.
  • a compression notch 408 runs along a portion of the sleeve 402, and a locking groove 412 extends at least partially around the sleeve 402.
  • the terminator plug 400 is clamped onto the loose ends of the strands of the braided cord adjacent the strand guide 216 and pinched so that the strands can be cut without their dispersal. Then a terminator plug 400 is secured around the cord adjacent the strand clamp 248 and pinched, after which the strand clamp 248 can be opened and the excess strand length cut.
  • spikes are employed to engage the strands of the braided cord by the terminator plug, other strand engagement features to engage the strands of the braided cord can be employed.
  • FIGS. 14A and 14B show a female cord terminator 416 and a male cord terminator 420 respectively.
  • Both the female cord terminator 416 and the male cord terminator 420 have an opening 424 dimensioned to receive the terminator plug 400. Additionally, the openings 424 have an internal ridge (not shown) that mates with the locking groove 412 of the terminator plug 400 to lock the terminator plug 400 therein.
  • the male cord terminator 416 has an annular projection 428 with a circumferential rib that is received within the opening 424 of the female cord terminator 416 and engages a circumferential groove 432 therein to releasably couple the male cord terminator 420 with the female cord terminator 420.
  • FIG. 15 shows a jewelry article in the form of a bracelet 500 made using the braiding machine 20 and terminated using the terminator plugs 400, the female cord terminator 416, and the male cord terminator 420.
  • a braided cord 504 is securely coupled to the female cord terminator 416 and the male cord terminator 420 which can then be coupled together to close the bracelet 500.
  • terminator plug 400 is shown having a locking groove 412 about its outer surface that engages a ridge or other features within the openings 424 of the female cord terminator 416 and the male cord terminator 420, other corresponding engagement features can be formed on the terminator plug and the cord terminators to secure the terminator plug in the openings thereof.
  • Spool shuttles 264 can be deployed in the braiding machine 20 by aligning one of the loading slots 128 with an empty shuttle station 188, inserting the foot 304 of the spool shuttle 264 to be deployed into the loading slot 128 and sliding the spool shuttle 264 towards and into the empty shuttle station 188.
  • the spool shuttles 264 can be removed from the braiding machine 20 using the reverse process.
  • FIG. 16 shows a clasp 600 having a male cord terminator 604 and a female cord terminator 608 in accordance with another embodiment.
  • the male cord terminator 604 has an internal recess 612 in which a terminator plug 616 is received.
  • the terminator plug 616 is similar to the terminator plug 400 of FIG. 13 , and has a set of spikes 620.
  • a male connector 624 encircles the internal recess 612 and has a thick collar.
  • a cord through-hole 628 aligns with the internal recess 612.
  • the female cord terminator 608 similarly has an internal recess encircled by a female connector 632.
  • the female connector 632 also has a thick collar, enabling the male cord terminator and the female cord terminator 608 to be snap-fit together but enabling their release from one another under a threshold separation tension force.
  • a second terminator plug 616 is fit within the female cord terminator 608.
  • a cord through-hole 636 within the female cord terminator 608 aligns with the internal recess.
  • the male cord terminator 604 and the female cord terminator 608 are separated and the internal recesses 612 are cleared of terminator plugs 616, if any are present.
  • the loose ends of a braided cord are then inserted through the cord through-hole 628, through the internal recess 612, and out through the male connector 624.
  • the terminator plug 616 is then placed around the loose ends of the braided cord and pressed together to insert the terminator plug 616 into the internal recess 612.
  • the terminator plug 616 is friction fit within the internal recess 612 and clamps the loose strands of the braided cord therein.
  • the loose strands of the other end of the braided cord can be similarly inserted into the internal recess of the female cord terminator 608 via the cord through-hole 636.
  • the terminator plug 616 Upon pressing the terminator plug 616 onto the loose strands, the terminator plug 616 is inserted into the internal recess of the female cord terminator 608 and the braided cord is pulled back out of the female cord terminator 608 to friction fit the terminator plug 616 within the internal recess. Any loose strands extending out of the male cord terminator 604 and the female cord terminator 608 are cut.
  • the male connector 624 of the male cord terminator 604 is inserted into the female connector 632 of the female cord terminator 608 until the thickened collars engage one another to securely hold together the male cord terminator 604 and the female cord terminator 608.
  • the male cord terminator 604 and the female cord terminator 608 are pulled apart with sufficient force to enable the male connector 624 to pull out of the female connector 628 so that the male cord terminator 604 and the female cord terminator 608 can be separated.
  • FIG. 17 shows the braiding machine 20 during use, braiding a plurality of strands of flexible material 277, so as to form the braided cord 504. As can be seen several strands of flexible material 277 have been crossed over one another so as to interweave them.
  • While the above-described braiding machine employs a tensioner arm to retract the strands, other strand retractors can be employed to retract the strands from the spools.
  • the loose ends of the strands can be secured to a clamp that is coupled to an elastic band that withdraws the clamp from the spools.
  • the strand guide can be any design that defines a passageway through which the strands are directed, such as a hinged loop.
  • Various patterns of braids can be achieved by providing pattern formulas that indicate what color or type of strand should be placed at relative shuttle stations, or even whether some shuttle stations should be left empty.
  • the braiding machine can be used to braid cords with fewer strands by either not pulling strands from certain spool shuttles for engagement by the strand retractor, by removing spools from the spool shuttles, or by removing spool shuttles from the braiding machine.
  • gearing ratios, spacing of the shuttle stations, the sizing of the shuttle carriage or carriages, etc. can all be varied.
  • braiding machines While the braiding machine described and illustrated herein has two shuttle carriages, braiding machines can be constructed with one shuttle carriage or three or more shuttle carriages.
  • a spool shuttles 264 may be more broadly referred to as a strand shuttle 264, and that the strand shuttle be configured in any suitable way for holding the strand of flexible material 277.
  • the strand of flexible material 277 may be wound directly a flanged cylindrical shaft that is rotatable and which extends from the shuttle body 268 in place of the mounting posts 272.
  • Such a shaft may broadly be referred to as a strand holder.
  • the mounting posts 272 may also together be referred to as a strand holder.
  • the braiding machine may not be provided with a strand retractor and for the machine itself not to include a means for maintaining tension in the strands of flexible material 277.
  • the user of the braiding machine may be responsible for maintaining tension in the strands of flexible material 277 during operation (e.g. by holding and pulling gently on the ends of the strands of flexible material 277.
  • the braiding activity may take place without tension being applied to the strands, thereby forming a looser braid.
  • the term 'braid' is intended to be interpreted broadly to mean any cord formed by a plurality of strands which are crossed over or under one another interwoven with one another in any suitable way. The term is not intended to be limited to one specific way of interweaving the strands.

Landscapes

  • Engineering & Computer Science (AREA)
  • Textile Engineering (AREA)
  • Braiding, Manufacturing Of Bobbin-Net Or Lace, And Manufacturing Of Nets By Knotting (AREA)

Claims (10)

  1. Une - machine à tresser artisanale, comprenant :
    un ensemble de navettes de brins, chacune des navettes de brins comportant un support de brins positionné pour maintenir un brin de matériau flexible et pour distribution du brin de matériau flexible ;
    une pluralité de stations de navette (188)
    auxquelles les navettes de brins peuvent être stationnées,
    la pluralité de stations de navette étant disposées en circuit ;
    au moins un chariot de navette (140) qui, lorsqu'il est entraîné, sélectionne de manière répétée au moins une navette de brins immédiatement de l'ensemble précédemment non sélectionnée (264) et déplace au moins l'une des navettes de brins (264) immédiatement non sélectionnée précédemment d'une au moins d'une des stations associée de la pluralité de stations de navette (188) vers une autre station de navette d'au moins une des stations de navette de la pluralité de stations de navette (188) le long du circuit, de manière à tresser les brins de matériau flexible ; et
    un agencement d'entraînement couplé audit au moins un chariot de navette pour l'entraîner, à au moins un chariot navette (140),
    dans lequel chacune de la pluralité des stations de navette (188) dispose d'une surface de support et d'une encoche (192) s'étendant à travers la surface de support (196), et chacune des navettes de brins (264) possède un corps de navette (268) avec un arbre (296) s'étendant à partir de celui-ci et définissant un axe à travers celui-ci, l'arbre (296) étant dimensionné pour s'ajuster dans les encoches (192) et ayant un élément élargi (300) qui est espacé du corps de navette (268), le corps de navette (268) et l'élément élargi (300) étant dimensionnés pour empêcher son passage axialement à travers les encoches (192) au niveau de la pluralité de stations de navette (264).
  2. Une machine à tresser (20) selon la revendication 1, dans laquelle les supports de brins distribuent le brin de matériau flexible (277) sous tension, et dans laquelle la machine à tresser (20) comprend en outre un enrouleur de brins positionné pour recevoir et rétracter de manière amovible et sécurisée les brins (277) des navettes de brins (264).
  3. Une machine à tresser (20) selon la revendication 1, dans laquelle ledit au moins un chariot de navette (140) est monté de manière rotative sur un carrousel (66) qui est rotatif par rapport à la pluralité de stations de navette (188) et de l'agencement d'entraînement, le carrousel (66) étant entraîné par l'agencement d'entraînement pour tourner dans une première direction, et au moins un chariot de navette (140) étant entraîné par la rotation du carrousel (66) pour tourner dans une seconde direction opposée à la première direction.
  4. Une machine à tresser (20) selon la revendication 3, dans laquelle ledit au moins un chariot de navette (140) comporte des caractéristiques d'engagement (156) qui quittent l'arbre (296) d'au moins l'un des ensembles de navettes à brins (264) dans au moins l'un associé de la pluralité de stations de navette (188) lorsque le carrousel (66) est mis en rotation lorsque ladite au moins une des navettes de l'ensemble des navettes de brin (264) se trouve à une première élévation par rapport à un plan du carrousel (66), et qui engage l'arbre (296) de ladite au moins une des navettes de brins (264) et transportent ladite au moins une des navettes de l'ensemble des navettes de brins (264) parmi au moins une station de navette associée parmi la pluralité de stations de navette lorsque ladite au moins une des navettes de l'ensemble des navettes de brins (264) est à une seconde élévation par rapport à l'axe de rotation du carrousel (66).
  5. Une machine à tresser (20) selon la revendication 4, dans laquelle l'arbre (296) de chacun des ensembles de navettes de brins (264) a une caractéristique élargie (300) qui est espacée du corps de navette (268), et dans lequel les caractéristiques d'engagement (156) emprisonnent les caractéristiques agrandies (300) des arbres (296) des navettes de brins (264) lorsque ladite navette de l'ensemble des navettes de brins (264) est à la seconde élévation par rapport à l'axe de rotation du carrousel (66).
  6. Une machine à tresser (20) selon la revendication 4, dans laquelle le carrousel dispose d'au moins un dispositif de levage (92) qui élève la navette de brins précédemment non sélectionnée immédiatement de l'ensemble des navettes de brins (264) de la première élévation à la seconde élévation lorsque le carrousel (66) est entraîné par l'agencement d'entraînement.
  7. Une machine à tresser (20) selon la revendication 6, dans laquelle le carrousel (66) a une surface de déplacement supportant au moins l'un des éléments immédiatement non sélectionné précédemment de l'ensemble des navettes de brins (264) à la seconde élévation.
  8. Une machine à tresser (20) selon la revendication 7, dans laquelle le carrousel (66) comporte un guide de navette (164) limitant le mouvement de la navette de brins précédemment non sélectionnée immédiatement de l'ensemble des navettes de brins (264) à l'écart du ou des chariots de navette (140).
  9. Une machine à tresser (20) selon la revendication 1, ou la revendication 2, dans laquelle chacune de l'ensemble des navettes de brins (264) comporte une bobine amovible (276) montée sur celle-ci avec le brin (277) enroulé autour, la bobine amovible (276) résistant à la rotation et tournant lors de l'application d'une tension seuil sur le brin distribué (277).
  10. Une machine à tresser (20) selon la revendication 2, dans laquelle le dispositif de rétraction de brin comporte un bras de tension (228) qui reçoit de manière libérable et sécuritaire et applique une tension aux brins (277), et dans laquelle le bras de tension (228) comporte un dispositif de serrage de brin (248) pour recevoir de manière libérable et sécurisée les brins (277).
EP21176477.4A 2017-05-09 2018-01-25 Machine à tresser Active EP3926085B1 (fr)

Priority Applications (1)

Application Number Priority Date Filing Date Title
EP24151906.5A EP4389952A1 (fr) 2017-05-09 2018-01-25 Machine à tresser

Applications Claiming Priority (4)

Application Number Priority Date Filing Date Title
GBGB1707396.6A GB201707396D0 (en) 2017-05-09 2017-05-09 Braiding or weaving mechanism
US15/863,533 US10246804B2 (en) 2017-05-09 2018-01-05 Braiding machine
EP18153388.6A EP3401429B1 (fr) 2017-05-09 2018-01-25 Machine à tresser
EP19168437.2A EP3656906B1 (fr) 2017-05-09 2018-01-25 Machine à tresser

Related Parent Applications (3)

Application Number Title Priority Date Filing Date
EP19168437.2A Division EP3656906B1 (fr) 2017-05-09 2018-01-25 Machine à tresser
EP19168437.2A Division-Into EP3656906B1 (fr) 2017-05-09 2018-01-25 Machine à tresser
EP18153388.6A Division EP3401429B1 (fr) 2017-05-09 2018-01-25 Machine à tresser

Related Child Applications (1)

Application Number Title Priority Date Filing Date
EP24151906.5A Division EP4389952A1 (fr) 2017-05-09 2018-01-25 Machine à tresser

Publications (2)

Publication Number Publication Date
EP3926085A1 EP3926085A1 (fr) 2021-12-22
EP3926085B1 true EP3926085B1 (fr) 2024-02-14

Family

ID=61027532

Family Applications (3)

Application Number Title Priority Date Filing Date
EP19168437.2A Active EP3656906B1 (fr) 2017-05-09 2018-01-25 Machine à tresser
EP18153388.6A Active EP3401429B1 (fr) 2017-05-09 2018-01-25 Machine à tresser
EP21176477.4A Active EP3926085B1 (fr) 2017-05-09 2018-01-25 Machine à tresser

Family Applications Before (2)

Application Number Title Priority Date Filing Date
EP19168437.2A Active EP3656906B1 (fr) 2017-05-09 2018-01-25 Machine à tresser
EP18153388.6A Active EP3401429B1 (fr) 2017-05-09 2018-01-25 Machine à tresser

Country Status (2)

Country Link
EP (3) EP3656906B1 (fr)
PL (1) PL3401429T3 (fr)

Families Citing this family (1)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
GB202003252D0 (en) * 2020-03-06 2020-04-22 Fuse London Ltd Apparatus for forming braided elongate members

Family Cites Families (5)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
USRE20146E (en) * 1936-10-27 Core covering machine
US4369690A (en) * 1981-09-18 1983-01-25 Mattel, Inc. Hair braiding apparatus
JPH0628603B2 (ja) * 1988-10-14 1994-04-20 株式会社タカラ 頭髪編み機
WO2004064568A1 (fr) * 2003-01-17 2004-08-05 Elysee Beauty Products, Ltd. Dispositif a tresser les cheveux
EP2975166B1 (fr) * 2014-07-14 2019-09-11 Fuse London Ltd. Appareil et méthode d'enroulement

Also Published As

Publication number Publication date
EP3401429A1 (fr) 2018-11-14
EP3926085A1 (fr) 2021-12-22
EP3401429B1 (fr) 2019-05-29
EP3656906A1 (fr) 2020-05-27
PL3401429T3 (pl) 2019-11-29
EP3656906B1 (fr) 2021-07-07

Similar Documents

Publication Publication Date Title
US11680346B2 (en) Braiding machine
US6662808B2 (en) Hair wrapper
US6637441B2 (en) Hair wrapper
US4307737A (en) Hair braider
EP3926085B1 (fr) Machine à tresser
US4582074A (en) Hair twining apparatus
EP2975166B1 (fr) Appareil et méthode d'enroulement
KR20120125774A (ko) 태엽을 이용한 넥타이고정장치
KR20050003313A (ko) 목걸이줄 권취기능.
US9506176B2 (en) Thread coloring apparatus
US8944475B2 (en) Methods and systems for knotting a bead
WO2016111302A1 (fr) Auxiliaire de liaison
GB2456777A (en) Pom-pom and tassel maker
CA2936652A1 (fr) Dispositif de tissage
JPH0733324A (ja) 紐等の線状体の移送装置
PL156684B1 (pl) Sposób wytwarzania nitek ozdobnych z przedzy i jedwabiu oraz urzadzenie do stosowaniatego sposobu PL PL PL

Legal Events

Date Code Title Description
PUAI Public reference made under article 153(3) epc to a published international application that has entered the european phase

Free format text: ORIGINAL CODE: 0009012

STAA Information on the status of an ep patent application or granted ep patent

Free format text: STATUS: THE APPLICATION HAS BEEN PUBLISHED

AC Divisional application: reference to earlier application

Ref document number: 3401429

Country of ref document: EP

Kind code of ref document: P

Ref document number: 3656906

Country of ref document: EP

Kind code of ref document: P

AK Designated contracting states

Kind code of ref document: A1

Designated state(s): AL AT BE BG CH CY CZ DE DK EE ES FI FR GB GR HR HU IE IS IT LI LT LU LV MC MK MT NL NO PL PT RO RS SE SI SK SM TR

B565 Issuance of search results under rule 164(2) epc

Effective date: 20210831

STAA Information on the status of an ep patent application or granted ep patent

Free format text: STATUS: REQUEST FOR EXAMINATION WAS MADE

17P Request for examination filed

Effective date: 20220622

RBV Designated contracting states (corrected)

Designated state(s): AL AT BE BG CH CY CZ DE DK EE ES FI FR GB GR HR HU IE IS IT LI LT LU LV MC MK MT NL NO PL PT RO RS SE SI SK SM TR

REG Reference to a national code

Ref country code: HK

Ref legal event code: DE

Ref document number: 40067412

Country of ref document: HK

GRAP Despatch of communication of intention to grant a patent

Free format text: ORIGINAL CODE: EPIDOSNIGR1

STAA Information on the status of an ep patent application or granted ep patent

Free format text: STATUS: GRANT OF PATENT IS INTENDED

INTG Intention to grant announced

Effective date: 20231011

GRAS Grant fee paid

Free format text: ORIGINAL CODE: EPIDOSNIGR3

GRAA (expected) grant

Free format text: ORIGINAL CODE: 0009210

STAA Information on the status of an ep patent application or granted ep patent

Free format text: STATUS: THE PATENT HAS BEEN GRANTED

P01 Opt-out of the competence of the unified patent court (upc) registered

Effective date: 20231219

AC Divisional application: reference to earlier application

Ref document number: 3401429

Country of ref document: EP

Kind code of ref document: P

Ref document number: 3656906

Country of ref document: EP

Kind code of ref document: P

AK Designated contracting states

Kind code of ref document: B1

Designated state(s): AL AT BE BG CH CY CZ DE DK EE ES FI FR GB GR HR HU IE IS IT LI LT LU LV MC MK MT NL NO PL PT RO RS SE SI SK SM TR

REG Reference to a national code

Ref country code: GB

Ref legal event code: FG4D

REG Reference to a national code

Ref country code: CH

Ref legal event code: EP

REG Reference to a national code

Ref country code: DE

Ref legal event code: R096

Ref document number: 602018065414

Country of ref document: DE

REG Reference to a national code

Ref country code: IE

Ref legal event code: FG4D

REG Reference to a national code

Ref country code: LT

Ref legal event code: MG9D

REG Reference to a national code

Ref country code: NL

Ref legal event code: FP